Methods for container taping



A ril 21, 1970 T. BARNICKEL METHODS FOR CONTAINER TAPING .4 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed April 10. 1968 INVENTOR. THOMAS BARNICKEL ATTORNEYS A ril 21,1970 T. BARNICKEL 3,507,210

METHODS FOR CONTAINER TAPING Filed April 10, 1968 .4 Sheets-Shet z I NVEN TOR. THOMAS BARN/CK E L ATTORNEYS April 9 0 T. BARNICKEL. 3,507,210

METHODS FOR CONTAINER TAPING Filed April 10, 1968 .4.YSheetsSheet 5INVENTOR. THOMAS BARNICKEL BY W) ATTORNEYS April 21, 1970 T. BARNICKELMETHODS FOR CONTAINER TAPING .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 10, 1968 FIG.12

I N VENT OR. THOMAS BARNICKEL ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,507,210METHODS FOR CONTAINER TAPING Thomas Barnickel, 265 Main St., RidgefieldPark, NJ. 07660 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 660,863,July 27, 1967. This application Apr. 10, 1968, Ser.

Int. Cl. B6511 13/02, 13/24; B32b 13/04 I US. Cl. 100-2 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus and methods for applying andsecuring closure tape to containers wherein an endless tape is fed froma single source, wrapped around the container, fastened to itself andsevered from the source.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is acontinuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 660,863, filed inthe United States Patent Office on July 27, 1967, by the applicantherein, now Patent No. 3,420,159 which issued Jan. 7, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to containerclosures generally and specifically to apparatus and methods for closingcontainers by wrapping them with a generally flat, endless tapeextending from a single source until the tape meets itself, fasteningthe tape to itself where it meets, and severing the tape from thesource.

' In the aforesaid co-pending application, there were described andclaimed, methods for automatically wrapping containers with endless tapeextending from two independent sources, the tape from one. sourceextending around one half of the container and the tape from the othersource extending around the opposite half of the container, the twosegments of tapes being fastened at the two points where they met.

When tape is fed from a single source, rather than from two independentsources, means must be provided for grasping the free end of the tapeduring the wrapping operation, which means releases the free end of thetape after the fastener has been applied, severing the tape between thecontainer and the source but regrasping the newly created free end ofthe tape to condition the apparatus for the next container.

Synthetic wrapping tape such as oriented polypropylene has extremelyhigh tensile strength and other qualities which make for a superiorcontainer wrap. Nevertheless, in the past, it has been extremelydifiicult to employ such tape in automatic machinery since synthetictape of the character described cannot be thermally field to itself andyet provide a bond strong against both shear and tensile stress. Thus,in order to employ such tape in automated machinery, mechanical means ofsome character must be provided for fastening the tape to itself. In thecopending application, mechanical fastener means were disclosed andclaimed. The same said fastener means are disclosed herein as useful butare not specifically claimed.

Thus, it is among the objects and advantages of the present invention toprovide methods for automatic container taping wherein an endless tapeis wrapped around the container to meet itself, fastened to itself Whereit meets and severed from the source.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods for automaticcontainer wrapping as aforesaid in which the endless tape is fed from asingle source.

A further object of the invention is to provide methods for automaticcontainer wrapping as aforesaid in which 3,507,210 Patented Apr. 21,1970 "ice SUMMARY OF INVENTION A container taping device comprisingpairs of terminally opposed clamping members terminally engageable anddisengageable by relative longitudinal movement in opposition to eachother; the terminally opposed pairs of clamping members being movable.toward and away from each other by relative latitudinal movement; asource of endless tape; tape holding means, latitudinally spaced apartfrom the pairs of terminally opposed clamping members which grasp theterminal end of the endless tape while the said clamping members arelatitudinally most distantly spaced apart from each other; said holdingmeans releasing the terminal end of the tape as the clamping membersmove latitudinally toward each other to their most proximately spacedapart position; means for re-engaging the holding means to the tapeintermediate a tape-wrapped container and feed source as the clampingmembers return latitudinally to their most distantly spaced apartposition; and means for severing the regrasped tape from the sourceintermediate the holding means and the tape-wrapped container.

A method for taping containers comprising grasping the terminal end ofan endless tape extending from a single source of supply; intruding acontainer transversely between the source of supply and the graspingpoint sufiiciently to wrap the tape at least partially around thecontainer; engaging the tape to itself to complete wrapping of thecontainer; releasing the said terminal end of the tape and securing thetape to itself at the point of engagement; regrasping the tape betweenthe container and the source of supply; and severing the tape from thesource of supply intermediate the container and the grasping point.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION The objects and advantages aforesaidas well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by the methodsdescribed and claimed herein, wherein the apparatus is illustrated inthe drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of thecontainer taping device claimed herein illustrating a stationary baseand a vertically movably head;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the stationary base illustrated in FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the head illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the base and head taken alongline 4-4 in FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURES 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are side elevational views of the base and headillustrating the sequence of operation for taping a container;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a spring loaded, pivotal arm on the basedefining tape holding the regrasping means;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of a fastener employed to secure the tapeto itself after wrapping the container;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevational view of the fastener illustrated inFIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a view in perspective of the fastener illustrated in FIGURE11 showing a loop of the tape engaged to itself in prefastening positionin dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGURES 1through 4 inclusive, the container taping device comprises a stationarybase 11 and a vertically movable head or top 12 positioned forengagement and disengagement with the base 11.

The base 11 comprises a generally rectangular, fiat bottom 13 having apair of generally parallel, upstanding, spaced apart, rigid side walls14 and 15. For clarity, side wall 15 has been removed in FIGURE 1. Arigid, upstanding end wall 16 extends between the side walls 14 and 15along one end of the base 13. End wall 16 defines a rigidly immovableclamping member which will be described in greater detail hereafter.

A latitudinally movable, upstanding wall 17, generally parallel to theend wall 16, extends between side walls 14 and 15. Latitudinally movablewall 17 defines another clamping member.

A connecting rod 18 is attached to the latitudinally movable wall 17 andextends generally parallel to and along the latitudinal axis of thebottom 13 in a direction opposite the end wall 16. The connecting rod 18extends slidably through an immovable central support wall 19 andimmovable end wall 20. The connecting rod 18 terminates external to thebase 11 where it is connected to a piston rod 21 of a double actingpneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 22. Cylinder 22 functions to drive themovable wall or clamping member 17 toward and away from the rigidlyimmovable end wall or clamping member 16.

The head 12 comprises a flat, generally rectangular top 21 whichfunctions as a mount or support for a generally U-shaped carrier 22.Carrier 22 defines a pair of generally parallel, latitudinally spacedapart, immovable walls 23 and 25.

A pair of spaced apart, generally parallel slide rods 24, 24 are mountedon and extend between the rigidly immovable walls 23 and 25. Alatitudinally movable wall 26 is slidably mounted on the slide rods 24,24 intermediate the immovable walls 23 and 25. Latitudinally movablywall 26 defines yet another clamping member.

Coil springs 57, 57 are mounted on the slide rods 24, 24 intermediateimmovable wall 23 and the latitudinally movable intermediate wall 26,normally urging said walls apart. Stop bolts 27, 27 threadably mountedin wall 25 and extending in the direction of latitudinally movable wall26, limit the extent of movement of wall 26 in the direction of wall 25and function to maintain vertical registration between latudinallymovable Wall 26 on the head 12 and latitudinally movable wall 17 on thebase 11.

The head 12 is vertically movable into engagement and disengagement withthe base 11 by means of a connecting rod 29 attached at one end to thetop 12 and at the opposite end to some suitable prime mover notillustrated. The walls or clamping members 16, 17, 23 and 26 areprovided with generally fiat, elongated terminal ends respectively 30,31, 32 and 33, each of which are disposed at substantially the sameangle to the horizontal. Terminal ends 30 and 31 on the base 11 slopedownwardly at an angle to the horizontal toward each other whereasopposing and complementary terminal ends 32, 33 on the head 12 slopeupwardly from the horizontal in a direction opposite each other. Theslope of terminal ends 30-31 may be alternated as apair with the slopeof terminal ends 32, 33. The slope of the terminal ends is adapted toimpart a loop in the wrapping tape when the respective terminal ends arein clamping engagement with each other with the tape therebetween andthe latitudinally movable walls moved toward the latitudinally immovablewalls as will be more completely described hereafter.

The base 11 and the head 12 are normally spaced apart suflicient topermit the intrusion of a container therebetween. Since a principalobject of this invention is to provide a container taping device inwhich a single source of endless tape is employed rather than a doublesource as described and claimed in copending application, Ser. No.660,863, means must be prgvided for grasping the free 4 end of the tape34 as is illustrated in FIGURE 5. The tape 34 extends from a rollersource 35 downwardly to the grasping point and transverse to the path ofdirection of a container 36. As the container 36 is intruded between thebase 11 and head 12 transverse to the tape 34, the tape 34 feeds fromthe supply roll 35 to surround at least three sides of the container 36after it has passed between the base 11 and head 12 as is illustrated inFIG- URE 6. The means for propelling the container 36 are a matter ofchoice and are well known in the art.

After the container 36 has travelled to a point immediately beyond theend walls 16 and 24 of the base 11 and the head 12 respectively, thehead 12 is moved vertically downwardly toward the base until therespective pairs of terminal ends 30, 32 and 31, 33 tightly engage,trapping and grasping the tape 34 therebetween as is illustrated inFIGURE 7. The downward movement of head 12 also functions to wrap thetape 34 around the fourth or end side of the container 36.

Piston 22 is then energized to force latitudinally movable wall 17 ofthe base 11 in the direction of immovable wall 16. The slanting terminalends 31, 33 of the latitudinally movable walls 17 and 26 define a clutchengagement whereby movement of Wall 17 causes simultaneous movement ofwall 26. Of course if the direction of slant of the respective terminalends 30-32 and 31-33 were alternated, wall 26 would have to be driven inorder to carry wall 17. Such an arrangement is contemplated as withinthe scope of the present invention.

As latitudinally movable walls 17 and 26 approach immovable walls 16 and23 respectively, with the tape 34 tightly trapped therebetween, a loop37 is imparted to the tape 34 between the aforesaid walls as isillustrated in FIGURE 8. When the respective terminal ends, 30-32 and31-33 are oriented as illustrated, the loop 37 extends downwardly. Ifthe orientation of the said terminal ends was reversed, the loop 37would extend upwardly.

Walls 16 and 17 of the base 11 are each provided with a horizontalgroove 39 which are disposed in opposition to each other immediatelybeneath the terminal ends 30 and 31. A fastener 38, illustrated inFIGURES 11, 12 and 13 is slid through the grooves 39, 39 to engage theloop 37 as illustrated in FIGURE 13.

The tape 34 is pulled so slightly about the container 36 when the head12 moves downwardly to engage the base 11, the tap slightly stretcheselastically and the container tends to crush resiliently. Thus, when thefastener 38 is applied, the short distance between the loop 37 and thecontainer 36 defined by the thickness of the engaged walls 16 and 24 ofthe base 11 and the head 12 respectively is taken up when the head 12reciprocates upwardly to release the tape. Thus, the tape 34 remainstightly wrapped around the container 36.

The basic concept of wrapping the container 36 by use of the base 11 andhead 12 to form the loop 37 and the subsequent application of thefastener 38 is set forth in the aforesaid copending application.However, since the present invention contemplates a single source ofendless tape 34, means must be provided to perform functions notcontemplated in the copending application.

Firstly, since a single source of tape 34 is employed, the free end ofthe tape must be fixed in position so that the intrusion of thecontainer transverse to the tape 34 beween the base 11 and head 12 willcause the tape 34 to feed out from the roller 35 and extend around atleast three sides of the container 36 as is illustrated in FIGURE 6.After the loop 37 has been formed and the fastener 38 applied, the tape34 must be severed from the source of supply 35. However, at the sametime, the newly created free end of the tape 34 must be regrasped by thesame said means as initially grasped the first free end of the tape 34in order that the next container 36 may be intruded. Such means arecontemplated as Within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

Cooperative means on both the base 11 and the head 12 are provided toperform the aforesaid functions. The means comprise a generally L-shapedcarrier 40 keyed for movement with the connecting rod 18 intermediatethe walls 19 and 20 of the base 11. The upstanding, generally verticalleg 41 of the carrier 40 is displaced to one side of the latitudinalaxis of the base 11. An angular pressure arm 42 is pivotally mounted inproximity to the top of the vertical leg 41 as is illustrated in FIGURES1 and 2. The arm 42 is spring loaded and normally rests in a positiontransverse to and extending across the latitudinal axis of the base 11in position to intercept the tape 34 extending from the supply roll 35.A resilient pressure pad 43 is mounted on the end wall 20 in generalopposition to the arm 42.

When the latitudinally movable wall 17 of base 11 is most distantlyspaced apart from the immovable wall 16, the arm 42 tightly engages andcompresses the resilient pad 43. When the tape 34 is intruded downwardlybetween the arm 42 and the pad 43 and the same are tightly engaged, tapeholding means are defined as is illustrated in FIGURE 5.

After the container 36 has been intruded between the base 11 and head12, the tape extends from the aforesaid holding means, the arm 42 andpad 43, transversely across the terminal clamping ends and 31 to andaround three sides of the carton 36 and from thence, latitudinally againbetween the base 11 and head 12 to the supply roll 35 as is illustratedin FIGURE 6.

The head 12 is provided with a latitudinally stationary depending leg 44having a horizontal foot 45 extending transversely across thelatitudinal axis of the base 11. The segment of the tape 34 extendingfrom the top of the container 36 rearwardly to the roll 35 engages thebottom of the foot 45 as is illustrated in FIGURE 6.

The head 12 is then moved downwardly until the respective pairs ofopposed, terminal ends or clamping members 30-32 and 31-33 tightlyengage as is illustrated in FIGURE 7. The foot 45 carries the tape 34downwardly over the arm 42. At this point, the intial free end of thetape 34 remains tightly engaged between the arm 42 and pad 43. The tape34 engages itself between the clamped terminal ends, 30-32 and 31-33.The piston 22 is energized to drive latitudinally movable walls 17 and26 in the direction of latitudinally immovable walls 16 and 23 togenerate the loop 37 as is illustrated in FIG- URE 8. Since the L-shapedleg 40 is keyed for movement with the connecting rod 18, the arm 42mounted thereon is withdrawn from the resilient pad 43 thereby releasingthe initial terminal end of the tape 34. However, tape 34 now extendsfrom the supply roll 35 obliquely downwardly over the top of the arm 42and downwardly beneath the foot 45 of the stationary leg 44 on the head12. Tension on the roller 35 combined with movement of the L-shapedcarrier 40 causes the spring loaded arm 42 to pivot outwardly as isillustrated in FIGURE 10. As soon as the arm 42 pivots sufiiciently faroutwardly to clear the tape 34 the tape 34 drops flush against the pad43. The arm 42 then swings in the opposite direction under its normalspring load bias to again assume a position in opposition to the pad 43.Movement of the carrier 40 has previously permitted disengagement of theinitial free end of the tape 34 from between the arm 42 and pad 43 andhas pulled that free end of the tape 34 from between these members.

The piston 22 is thereupon reversed drawing the carrier 40 in thedirection of the end wall 20. The tape 34 is now positioned between thearm 42 and pad 43. When the arm 42 and pad 43 tightly engage, the tape34 is regrasped therebetween and extends downwardly beneath the arm 42to the carton 36.

However, the tape 34 is severed by means of a blade 46 mounted on thebottom of the resilient pad 43. As the arm 42 resiliently compresses thepad 43, it carries the tape 34 into engagement with the cutting edge ofthe blade 46 severing the tape from the container 36. The apparatus isnow in a position to receive another container 36 with the newly createdterminal end of the tape 34 tightly grasped between the arm 42 and thepad 43.

A principal function of the apparatus disclosed herein is to generate aloop in engaged segments of the tape. This is performed by clamping theengaged tape segments at two spaced apart points and thereafter movingthe clamping points relatively closer to each other. In order to insurethat the tapes will always loop in one direction, the clamping surfacesare angled in that direction intermediate the clamping points.

In the copending application, mating convex and concave clampingsurfaces have been disclosed. While such surfaces function well, thereis a premium on vertical registration. Vertical misalignment of theopposed terminal clamping ends tends to generate cutting pressures onthe tape sometimes severing weaker tapes.

In the present application, fiat clamping surfaces disposed at an angleto the horizontal are disclosed and claimed. Such clamping surfaces donot put a premium on vertical alignment of the terminally opposed ends30-32 and 31-33. In addition, they serve to unfailingly dispose the loopin one direction or the other according to the angle of the clampingsurfaces.

While a mechanical fastener 38 has been disclosed in this application,it should be borne in mind that any means for securing the engaged tapetogether is contemplated as within the scope of the claims annexedhereto. For instance, some tapes will heat seal very successfullyalthough oriented polypropylene requires a considerable thickness inorder to be so sealed. The loop formed by the apparatus disclosed hereinmay be employed to generate the re quired thicknesses and tapedisposition for heat or dielectric sealing. A heat generating elementmay be inserted between the walls 16 and 17 when most closely disposedto each other to compress the loop disposing the legs thereof into tightengagement for heat sealing.

The mechanical fastener 38 disclosed herein comprises a pair of flat,latitudinally rigid, spaced apart side legs 47, 48 interconnected at oneend of each by a flat cross leg 49. A center leg 50 is resilientlyformed on the cross leg 49 extending generally between the side legs 47and 48 but normally lying in a plane displaced from the plane of thesaid side legs.

The side legs 47 and 48 are each provided with an inwardly extendingdetent respectively 51 and 52 generally at the end opposite the crossleg 49. Similarly, the free end 53 of the center leg 50 is flattened andthereby expanded laterally such that the most distant lateral extensionof the free end 53 extends beyond the farthest inward extension of thedetents 51 and 52 of the respective side legs 47 and 48. Thus, thecenter leg 50 is positively prevented from deflecting through the planeof the side legs 47 and 48.

The connection between the center legs 50 and the cross leg 49 isprovided with a positive angle, illustrated in FIGURES 12 and 13, theangle being between an increment in advance of zero degrees and lessthan ninety degrees to provide the center leg 50 with resilience from apivot point above the plane of the side legs 47 and 48 and the cross leg49. The space between the edges of the center leg 50 and the inwardlydisposed edges of the side legs 47 and 48 define a pair of slots 54 and55 which are dimensioned approximately twice the width of the tape 34which extends therethrough as illustrated in FIGURE 13. In addition, theedge of the cross leg 49 opposite the center leg 50 is provided with agenerally U-shaped recess 56 to accommodate pusher means for forcing thefastener 38 through the grooves 39, 39 in the walls 16 and 17.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for taping containers comprising,

(a) grasping the terminal end of an endless tape extending from asource,

(b) passing a container transversely against the tape between the sourceand the grasped terminal end sufficiently to at least partially wrap thetape around the container,

(c) engaging the tape to itself in close proximity to the container onthe side opposite that first engaged to the tape, while releasing theterminal end thereof,

(d) fastening the tape to itself where so engaged,

(e) regrasping the tape intermediate the fastening point and the source,and

(f) severing the tape on the side of the grasping point opposite thesource.

2. A method for taping containers comprising,

(a) the method in accordance with claim 1 and,

(h) generating a loop in the engaged tape in close proximity to thecontainer, and

(c) fastening the tape to itself at the loop.

3. A method for taping containers comprising,

(a) the method in accordance with claim 2 in which,

(b) the loop is generated by clamping segments of the tape to itself attwo spaced apart points, and

(0) moving the clamping points toward each other.

4. A method for taping containers comprising,

(a) the method in accordance with claim 3 in which,

(b) the loop is deflected consistently in the same direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 588,007 8/1897 Poulson 100-171,047,456 12/1912 Sonney 100-17 2,052,627 9/1936 Hermann 100-172,145,339 1/1939 Burns 100-17 2,361,742 10/1944 Bunn 100-17 2,741,8854/1956 Allison 53-198 2,982,063 5/1961 Coleman et a1. 53-198 XR3,104,606 9/1963 Kerrigan 100-17 XR 3,228,321 1/1966 Walters 100-173,364,847 1/1968 Francois 100-17 3,389,039 6/1968 Steckler 100-17 BILLYJ. WILHITE, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R.

